Electric starting and generating apparatus



May 22, 1923.

1,456,033 w. B MOSES ELECTRIC STARTING AND GENERATING APPARATUS Origin l Filed March 50. 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' F'IGI f i 2 s i g t E i E I 1% i 4 5 II E 7 22 H I Q I M1 1 I /2 /8 I t 5 54 3 2/ 28 1/ 46 153 I, wvenfob as Q. 44%;;

May 22, 1923.

W. B. MOSES ELECTRIC STARTING AND GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 30,

vwentoz "May 22, 1923.

1,456,033 w. B. MOSES ELECTRIC STARTING AND GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 30, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGA FIG. 5

Patented May 22, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC'STARTING AND GENERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 30, 1917, Serial No. 158,547. Renewed October 4, 1922. Sci-19.11%. 592,442.

T 0 all whom it may 00')? earn:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Mosns, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Electric Starting and Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric starting, generating and ignition apparatus for use in connection with the internal combustion engine of an automobile and with respect to certain more specific features thereof to Ford automobiles.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a system of the character abovementioned which shall .be sim le in construction and capable of insta ation in a quick and convenient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a so-called two unit starting and generating apparatus wherein the units are readily adjustable and wherein the weight of the system is evenly distributed.

Another object is to provide a. housing for the elements of power transmission which comprises a bracket and parts related and assembled therewith in such a manner that the transmission elements are easily accessible.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of means for obtaining suitable motor torque multiplication.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in )art pointed out hereinafter.

he invention accordingly consists in the various features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified by the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of aportion of the engine of an automobile with the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation with certain parts in section to more clearly disclose the construction.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation with certain parts in section to more clearly disclose the construction; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereis indicated generally at 1 an internal combustion engine having a t m ng shaft 2, and a crank shaft 3. The tuning shaft may be driven in the usual Way from a gear on the crank shaft to a gear twice size on the timing shaft. These gears are suitably encased to run in oil in a housmg 4 and this housing is provided originally wlth a cover plate which in the present instance is abandoned, as will more fully heremafter appear.

Referring now to Fig. lof the drawings a bracket 5 is shown positioned in a plane transversely of the crank shaft of the en ine and at the forward end thereof. his bracket is provided with several points of attachment certain of which are adjacent a flange 6 projecting forwardly on the engine casing. and certain of which are spaced around adjacent the timing gear housing 42. The, bracket attaching bolts are numbered '2' on the drawings.

Th bracket 5 is provided on one side with three bolt holes 8, one of which is of a size providing a sliding or rolling fit for the shank of an attaching bolt 9. The other two bolt holes are considerably larger than the shanks of the bolts which they are intended to receive, so that a motor unit 10 attached to the rear of the bracket by means of the three bolts mentioned may be adjusted pivot-ally around the shank of the bolt 9 and secured in adjusted position by tightening up all three bolts. On the opposite side of the bracket similar attaching means are employed for securing a generator unit 11 to this side of the bracket. It will be noted that the pivotal movement of the generator unit is around the shank of a bolt 12 and that the bracket is provided with two larger bolt holes 13 and 14, similar to those through which the motor unit is attached.

Near the end of the timing gear shaft a sprocket 15 is mounted by threadin the same on to a threaded portion 16 of said shaft. Originally this space was taken by drive therefore is from the crank shaft through the timin orv half-time gears, through the timing s aft, sprocket 15, chain 17, small sprocket 18 tothe generator'armm ture. The bracket 5 is provided with a comgine operatin under its ownpower will cause automatic disengagement of the pinion'with the gear 33.

The bracket 5 is formed with an oil receiving opening 50 through which the lubricating 011 may be introduced over and around the sprocket 15 and the timing gears to the crank case of the engine.

In makin an installation of the present apparatus'tie original crank shaft pulley of the Ford car may be lemoved and the combined pulley-and gear 31 and 33, respectively, substituted. The original comparatively large circular opening 20 through\ mutator, roller arm, timing gear lock nut,

which the chain 17 may be inserted, positioned around its sprockets and secured in place. This opening is sealed by means of aplate 21 having a shoulder 22 fitting a flange 23 of the bracket and having an internally arranged packing ring fitting around a hub 24; of the sprocket 15. This plate provides an oil tight encasement for to rotate with the crank shaft.

the timing gear and sprocket l5'and is designed to prevent oil. from passing through to the make and break device 25 of the commutator 26. The original Ford roller arm, roller and commutator may be used, the roller arm being held in place by a lock nut 27. The plate 21 is recessed to receive the commutator cap 28 and the bracket 5 is provided with means as indicated at 30 for attaching the original spring retaining arm 29 of the Ford machine to hold the commutator cap in position.

At the forward end of the crank shaft there is mounted a small pulley 31 the same being pinned or otherwise suitably secured This pulley is provided with a flange 32 on its forward side to which is bolted a gear 33. The motor unit is provided with an extended armature shaft carrying a fixed sprocket 34 which is connected by means of a chain 35 with a sprocket 36 forming part of a sleeve 37 .which is journaled in the bracket 5 as at 38. (Fig. 3.) The sleeve 37 surrounds and is (Jo-axial with a shaft 39, the two being connected by means of a coiled spring 40, one end of which is secured to the sleeve 37 as at 41 and the other end of which connects with a collar 42 which in turn is pinned Or otherwise secured to the shaft 39. This shaft is intermediate the motor armature shaft and the crank shaft and a portion of it is threaded as at 43 and has loosely mounted thereon an interiorly threaded unbalanced pinion 4A. A range of travel of this pinion ispermitted between stops 45 and 46 provided on the shaft 39 so that when the motor is operated the shaft 39 will beturned to cause a longitudinal movement of the pinion 44 into engagement with the gear 33. This will complete the train of power transmitting devices between the motor and the engine and the enand timing gear housing cover may be removed and the bracket 5 positioned and secured by alining the various attaching points of the bracket with standard tz )ped holes in the timing gear housingand ront flange of the Ford engine. The bolts 7 may be the original bolts used on the Ford car or some slightly longer. The bracket may be positioned with the generator and motor units attached or they may be mounted thereon later. The sprocket 15 is then screwed on to the threaded end of the timing shaft and as the driving tendency of the crank shaft is in the direction of the thread no further locking device is necessary, although one may be used if desired. The chain 17 is then arranged around the sprockets 15 and 1.8 and its ends secured, after which the sealing plate 21 may be applied. The original Ford roller-carrying arm is then returned to its initial )osition on a reduced end of the timing shaft, after whichthe locking parts are applied. It will be noted that in making the installation the Ford timing gear cover-plate is abandoned, the bracket 5 taking its place. The original commutator cap retainer or sprin arm 29 is attached to the bracket at 30 and serves to hold the commutator cap as be fore which in turn'holds the sealing plate 21 in position.

In operation the motor taking current from a storage battery (not shown), operates to drive the intermediate shaft 39 through the yielding connection 40 which causes an engagement of the pinion 44 with the gear 33 automatically. Through the pulley 31 the crank shaft is rotated from the gear 33 and when the engine commences to operate under its own fuel the pinion will be automatically disengaged in the usual manner. The generator is driven continuously from the crank shaft through the timing gears. sprocket 15, chain 17 and sprocket 18.

The present invention ermits the retention of the original For make and break ignition device, while at the same time pro viding for the use of battery ignition by equipping the generator'll with a timing device shown conventionally at 55.

As many changes might be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of the invenin a limiting sense.

' in combination, a cover plate for a timingn Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters' Patent is: v

1. In apparatus of the character described,

gear housing of an engine characterized by an extension adapted to mount a generator, said extension having a rear attaching wall; a generator body, means between said body and said extension through which the body of the generator is attached to the extension, a generator armature shaft having a transmission device at one end, said extension and said means co-operat-ing to house said device, and an: ignition shaft driven from the armature shaft at the other end thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an internal combustion engine havinga casing, a crank shaft, a timin shaft and a make-and-break device for ignltion, a bracket supported forwardly of said engine provided with means for attachment to a forward flange of the? engine casing and at points around the timing shaft, a generator attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on one side of the engine, a. motor attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on the opposite side of the engine, a counter shaft journaled in the bracket, and power transmitting devices, including said counter shaft, for automatically connecting the motor with the crank shaft to start the engine and automatically disconnecting the motor from the crank shaft when the engine is running.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an internal combustion engine having a casing, a crank shaft, a timing shaft and a make-and-break device for ignition, a bracket supported forwardly of said engine provided with means for attachment to a forward flange of the engine casing and at points around the timing shaft, a generator attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on one side of the engine, a. motor attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on the opposite side of the engine, and means housed by said bracket connecting said timing shaft with said generator.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an internal comfor attachment to a forward flange of the engine casing and at points around the timing shaft, a generator attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on one side of the engine, a motor attached to the bracket and extending rearwardly on the opposite side of the engine, and means housed by said bracket connecting said timing shaft with said generator, said bracket having a comparatively large opening on its forward side to'permit access to said last means, and means for sealing said opening. 5. In generating and ignition apparatus for engines, a generator unit, mounting means for said generator comprising a member adapted to cove-r an open portion at the front of the engine and extend laterally beyond the engine, means for securing the generator unit by one end to the rear wall of said mounting means so that the generator unit and the mounting means may cooperate to house the transmission connections between the generator and engine, a member associated with said mounting means to provide an oil tight connection there-between and the timing shaft of the engine, and a battery ignition device at the end of the generator remote from the mounting means, said ignition device being included with an end cap of the generator unit.

6. In apparatus of the character described in combination, a two unit starting and generating system comprising means extending outwardly at opposite sides of the front of an engine adapted to support the units, said meanshaving rear attaching faces, a generator unit mounted on said means with an end abutting one of said faces, a. motor unit mounted on said means with an end abutting another of said faces, and power transmission devices for connecting said units with the crank shaft of" the engine.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine having a crank shaft, a generator unit mounted on said engine at one side thereof having an armature shaft parallel with said crank shaft, a motor unit mounted on said engine at the other side thereof having an armature shaft parallel with said crank shaft and power transmission devices extending from both armature shafts to the forward end of the crank shaft. the means for mounting said units comprising laterally extending wings having rear attaching faces to which the ends of the units are secured.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a bracket for mounting starting and generating units. said bracket including cover means adapted to fit over an open front end of the engine and extend outwardly at each side thereof, a motor unit attachable by one end to an outward extension of said bracket at one side of said engine, a generator unit attachable by one end to an outward extension of said bracket at the opposite side of said en gine, and power transmission devices adapted to connect the said units with the forward end of the engine crank shaft.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to the forward end of an engine to lie in a plane transversely of the engine crank shaft, said bracket having portions extending on either side of the engine for supporting a motor and a generator on respectively opposite sides of said engine, a motor attached by one end to a rear wall of one extending portion, a generator attached by one end to a rear wall of the other extending portion and power transmission connection between the motor, generator and crank shaft.

10. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine, a motor, a generator, means at the front of said engine extending transversely thereof having provision for attaching said motor and said generator by their ends, respectively, to hold them parallel-to and on opposite sides of said engine, and transmission means connecting said motor and said generator with said engine.

11. In apparatus of the cha -acter described, in combination, an engine, a motor, a generator, a member attached to the front of said engine extending transversely thereof adapted to adjustably support said motor and said generator rearwardly of itself and on opposite sides of said engine, and transmission means connecting said motor and said generator with said engine.

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine comprising a crank shaft, a member attached forwardly of said engine and at right angles to said crank shaft, a motor attached rearwardly to said member on one side of said engine parallel to said crank shaft, a generator attached rearwardly to said member on the opposite side of said engine parallel to said cranak shaft, and transmission means partly supported by said member adapted to connect the motor and generator with the engine.

13. In apparatus of the character described. in combination, an engine comprising a crank shaft, a motor, a generator, a member extending transversely of said engine and attached forwardly thereto adapted to support said generator rearwardly on one side of said engine and tosupport said motor rearwardly on the opposite side of said engine, a transmission device housed within said member for connecting said, generator with said engine, and an automatically connectible and interruptible transmission device supported by said member for-connecting said motor with said engine.

14. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine, having a crank shaft, said shaft having mounted thereon a member comprising a fan belt pulle and gear, a supporting member forwar lyof. said engine having provision for adjustably supporting a motor with a portion of its armature shaft extending through said supporting member, an intermediate shaft supported by said supporting member, means for transmitting rotative movement from said portion to said intermediate shaft, and means for transmitting rotative movement from said intermediate shaft to the gear on said crank shaft.

15. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine having a crank shaft, a fan belt pulley fixedly mounted on said shaft and comprising a gear, a motor having an extended armature shaft, a partially threaded shaft intermediate the armature and crank shafts, a sleeve surrounding saidintermediate shaft, a yielding connection between the sleeve and said intermediate shaft, a pinion movable longitudinally along the threaded portion of said intermediate shaft and ada ted to engage with the gear of said fan be t pulley, means for connecting said armature shaft with said sleeve, and means on said engine for supporting said motor and said intermediate shaft.

16. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine comprising a crank shaft, a timing shaft, a timing gear thereon and a housing for said gear; a generating unit, a starting unit, a member forwardly of said engine at right angles to said crank shaft adapted to serve as a cover plate for said housing and having rovision for supporting said generating and starting units, a transmission device housed in said member for driving said generating unit from said timing shaft, and a transmission device connecting the starting unit with said crank shaft.

17. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine comprising a crank shaft, a timing shaft, a timing gear and housing and a commutator at the end of said timing shaft; a generating unit, a startin unit, a transversely extending member orwardly of said engine between said timing gear and said commutator adapted to serve as a cover plate for said housing and having provision for adjustably supporting said units, a transmission device housed within said member for drivin said generating unit from said timin shaft, and a transmission device automatica ly connectible and interruptible between said starting unit and said crank shaft.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, a timing gear shaft, and a make-and-break device on the end of the timing shaft for ignition purposes; of a memberadapted to be secured forwardly of said engine and transversely of said crank shaft, said memher having a portion adapted to fit over the forward end of the timing shaft and receive said make-and-break device, a generator having one end secured to the rear of said member, and a battery ignition device mounted at the other end of the generator.

19. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine comprising a timing gear, and a timing shaft having a threaded extending portion; a recessed sprocket having an elongated interiorly threaded hub adapted to engage with the threaded portion of said timing shaft to secure said timing gear thereon, a generator with a transmission device adapted to be driven by said recessed sprocket, means at the front of said engine extending transversely thereof adapted to support said generator and to house said transmission device, having a comparatively large opening to permit access to sald device and comprlsing a cover for sald open1ng, sa1d cover comadapted to be secured to the forward end of the engine to serve as a cover plate for the engine casing opposite the driving connections between the crank shaft and timing shaft; said bracket being adapted for pene-,

tration by an extending forward end of the timing shaft, a commutator on the timing shaft forward of said bracket member, an intervening element associated With said bracket member and fitted around the timing shaft rearwardly of said commutator, and a generator unit supported at its forward end by means'passing through an extending Wing of said bracket into a part of the generator unit; the bracket and unit being co-operatively associated also to provide a pocket for the transmission connections between the engine and generator.

Signed at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts this tenth day of March A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM B. MOSES. 

